The DALI IO-12 are top-of-the-line, premium over-ears from the Danish Hi-Fi manufacturer. These closed-back headphones come equipped with proprietary technologies, like Soft Magnetic Composite (SMC) driver magnet material, to ensure they're as easy on the ears as they are on the eyes. It's safe to say they're aimed squarely at the luxury audiophile market, given their leather and aluminum construction and variety of high-resolution connection types. The inclusion of an ANC system and a long-advertised battery life gives them some additional versatility, though, especially for those who want high-fidelity sound on the road.
Our Verdict
The DALI IO-12 weren't designed with sports and fitness in mind. They have a somewhat heavy, clunky build that doesn't make for a stable fit on the head, and jerky movements can easily cause them to slip and require adjustment. While the leather-centric construction adds a designer feel, it can promote heat and sweat buildup around the ear cups.
Very comfortable design.
Large and bulky.
The DALI IO-12 are a good choice for traveling. You'll be hard-pressed to find more comfortable or better-built headphones, and their use of premium materials makes for a premium-feeling listening experience while on the go. You'll also be hard-pressed to find a less cumbersome carrying case, though, which certainly makes them better suited to situations where luggage limitations aren't a concern. Their 35 hours of battery life mean they can go a few connecting flights without needing a recharge. While they come with an ANC system, it doesn't hold a candle to ANC-equipped flagship headphones from brands like Sony or Bose. It can cut out a decent amount of background chatter, but it will struggle to attenuate the roar of an aircraft engine.
Very comfortable design.
Premium construction and build quality.
Support for various wired connection types.
Large and bulky.
The DALI IO-12 are decent for office work. They're very comfortable, with soft leather earpads that'll hug your ears throughout the workday. Plus, the ability to use different wired and wireless connection types gives you some versatility in how they integrate with your workstation. Their ANC system does a decent job of blocking out sounds like water cooler talk and fridge hum, but it won't attenuate lower-pitched sounds, like scraping chairs, very well. They have a built-in mic that'll work well if you need to take a few calls throughout your workday, just don't expect the same performance as a boom mic: your voice will sound understandable but a little boxy. It does an adequate job of separating your voice from an office backdrop, though.
Very comfortable design.
Premium construction and build quality.
Extensive codec support.
Large and bulky.
Those with glasses will notice a drop in bass.
No mic support with a wired connection.
The DALI IO-12 aren't suitable for wireless gaming as latency is too high over a Bluetooth connection to be viable for most games.
The DALI IO-12 are okay for wired gaming. They're very comfortable headphones that'll get you through gaming marathons without much discomfort, and their warm tuning is well-suited to a variety of game types. The emphasized bass range can help bring out environmental audio, like footsteps, while the balanced mid-range adds detail to dialogue. You'll need to take some time to adjust the fit to ensure consistent audio delivery, though, especially if you wear glasses. They're compatible with PC, PlayStation, and Xbox family consoles using wired connections, with relatively low latency. Just be aware that you won't be able to use the mic while connected in this way.
Very comfortable design.
Support for various wired connection types.
Those with glasses will notice a drop in bass.
No mic support with a wired connection.
The DALI IO-12 are very good for audio reproduction accuracy. Their frequency response doesn't deviate much from their warm sound profile, with only some narrow peaks and dips in the treble range. While the default tuning already accentuates the bass range, it's possible to add even more thump via the switchable EQ. The L/R drivers are well-matched for the most part, and while there are some phase mismatches, they're very difficult to hear in real-life content. Distortion is also low enough that you won't notice any unwanted coloration of your audio, regardless of the listening level.
The DALI IO-12 are decent for noise isolation. They come equipped with a basic ANC system that works in conjunction with the closed-back design's passive isolation to attenuate across the entire frequency range. While it will cut down on traffic noises and background chatter, it can't compete with top-tier ANC-equipped over-ears from manufacturers like Sony and Bose. They particularly struggle in the low-bass range, where rumbling jet engines can creep into your audio. On the bright side, they don't leak much audio, so you don't need to be too worried about your tunes disturbing others.
The DALI IO-12's integrated microphone performs reasonably well. It's capable of rendering your voice in an understandable way, though it shelves the low- and high-end quite a bit, resulting in a boxy sound. Still, it does a passable job of separating your voice from busy backdrops, too, so it could be used to take calls in a packed office in a pinch, if you can't find a conference room in time.
The DALI IO-12 have sub-par frequency response consistency. The thick ear padding and square ear cups interact with the arms of glasses, especially thicker frames, which can disrupt the over-ear seal and bring about a noticeable drop in bass delivery.
Performance Usages
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The DALI IO-12 come in two color variants: 'Mocha Grey' and 'Dark Chocolate.' We've tested the Dark Chocolate colorway, and here's their label. If you encounter another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The DALI IO-12 are the Danish Hi-Fi manufacturer's flagship headphones, with a more complete feature set than the lower-tier IO-8 and IO-6. They face stiff competition from other high-end, audiophile-centric manufacturers with their own over-ear, noise-cancelling offerings. Among them, the Noble FoKus Apollo offer superior noise isolation, a detachable boom mic (as well as an integrated one), and plenty of customization options via a companion app, while providing similar levels of comfort and build quality. The DALI also have a comparable performance and feature set to the Focal Bathys Wireless, with both headphones offering similar passive and active playback options. The DALI are more comfortable and better built, but the Focal offer a better noise isolation performance and sound-shaping possibilities via their app.
Check out our recommendations for the best noise cancelling headphones, the best headphones for music, and the best audiophile headphones.
The Focal Bathys Wireless and the DALI IO-12 offer a comparable feature set and sound. Both headphones feature some extra emphasis in their bass range presentation, but the DALI rolls off some high-end for a darker sound, while the Focal opt for a bit of extra treble-range detail. While the DALI's sound profile can be adjusted via a singular EQ preset, the Focal offer far more customization via the graphic EQ in their companion app. When it comes to on-the-go use, the DALI's supremely comfortable fit, longer battery life, and great build quality elevate them above the Focal, and they feature a slightly better-performing mic. Still, the Focal's ANC system is more capable of cutting out external noise, and it's able to deliver audio more consistently.
The DALI IO-12 and the Mark Levinson Nº 5909 are both premium over-ears from esteemed hi-fi manufacturers. The Mark Levinson have a brighter sound profile, while the DALI opt for a warmer sound. While listener preference will play into this, the Mark Levinson offer slightly more scope for sound tweaking with their bass contour presets (compared to the DALI's two possible EQ presets). When it comes to everyday use, the DALI offer a better build quality and a much more comfortable fit. That said, the Mark Levinson have the edge when it comes to noise isolation and deliver audio more consistently.
The Noble FoKus Apollo are better all-around headphones than the DALI IO-12, though some will still prefer the DALI for their comfortable fit and premium construction. Both these luxury over-ears feature some extra emphasis in the bass range, though the Noble have a bit of extra sharpness in the treble. If you're not a fan of the default sound, the Noble let you customize the sound via a graphic EQ and presets, while the DALI only feature two presets to switch between. The Noble offer a lot more versatility when it comes to use cases too, as their great boom mic is a boon for calling, and their superior ANC system blocks out a lot more external noise than the DALI. Plus, the Noble's mic can be used while connected over a wired connection, meaning they can be used as a wired gaming headset.
The Sennheiser HDB 630 and the DALI IO-12 are both ANC-equipped, luxury audiophile headphones with slightly different strengths. The Sennheiser's frequency response is better aligned with our target, but some might prefer the DALI's warmer sound, especially over longer listening sessions where ear fatigue can kick in. Still, the Sennheiser boast unrivaled sound customization possibilities, thanks to extremely flexible EQ and sound shaping controls. They have a better noise isolation performance and a longer battery life, too, and even come with a dedicated Bluetooth dongle for high-resolution wireless playback. That said, the DALI are more comfortable and better built, and their built-in mic has a slightly better recording quality.
Test Results
The DALI IO-12 have a warm sound profile that accentuates the bass frequencies, while subtly rolling off some of the high-end. While there's no companion app (and therefore no graphic EQ), you can switch between 'Hi-Fi' and 'Bass' mode using the controls for two different sounds. The 'Hi-Fi' mode we used for testing follows the SoundGuys.com studio curve more closely than our own target in the mid and treble ranges, though the DALI diverge in the low-end, bringing a lot more energy to basslines.
The frequency response consistency is disappointing. Due to the size of their ear cups and the degree of clamping force, glasses arms can obstruct the over-ear seal and bring about a drop in bass delivery. While other physical factors, like head shape and hair length, can more subtly affect bass delivery, the effect won't be as noticeable as for glasses wearers.
These headphones have excellent bass-range compliance to our target curve. The range as a whole is overemphasized compared to our target, meaning the muscular Italo basslines in Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross's Challengers soundtrack jump out somewhat from the mix.
The mid-range compliance is outstanding. The range is virtually flat, meaning vocals and lead instruments are rendered with the right mix of detail and control. There's a very small dip at the top of this range that can subtly diminish the upper harmonics of female vocals, though this is mostly a product of the veiled treble range.
The DALI IO-12 have great treble range compliance. The range as a whole is underemphasized compared to our target, resulting in a darker, less aggressive presentation of cymbals. While the dips in the low- and mid-treble can cause vocal sibilance to sound a little dull, it does make for a less fatiguing listen, especially over longer sessions.
The DALI IO-12 have an excellent peaks and dips performance. The frequency response doesn't deviate much from their warm sound profile, with most fluctuations found in the treble range. A sharp dip in the mid-treble veils sibilants, softening open hi-hats and dulling S and T sounds. Meanwhile, a series of narrow peaks across the mid- and high-treble offset this somewhat, injecting a bit of air into the mix.
The stereo mismatch performance is okay. The L/R drivers are generally well-matched when it comes to amplitude and frequency, though there are some fluctuations in the treble range brought about by inconsistencies in their fit. The phase response skirts the audibility threshold in the mid-range, while exceeding it in the high-treble. Still, this doesn't seem to impact mid-range reproduction, and the mismatches in the high-treble fall out of most people's hearing range.
The DALI IO-12 aren't able to mimic the spatial presentation of an angled reference monitor. They have limited interaction with the outer ear, reducing the width and immersion of their sound.
The harmonic distortion performance is fantastic. Regardless of whether you listen at regular or more elevated listening volumes, there's no audible coloration of your audio.
These headphones are capable of achieving very loud volume levels over Bluetooth. Even when used passively, you won't need an external amp to drive them.
These are the settings used to test these headphones. Our results are only valid when used in this configuration.
The DALI IO-12 are high-end, Bluetooth over-ears. While their circular, dial-like ear cups liken them to Bang & Olufsen headphones (like the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95), their spacious, square earpads help them stand out from the crowd.
While they're only available in two relatively subdued finishes, 'Mocha Grey' and 'Dark Chocolate (our unit's color), there's an attention to detail present in their design that exudes luxury. Everything from the real leather grain visible on the earpads and headband, to the copper-hued aluminum hinges, contributes to this impression.
The DALI IO-12 are really comfortable. Their spacious ear cups can accommodate a wide range of ear sizes, and the real leather used for the earpads feels great on the skin. Weight is well-distributed throughout the design, though the grooves on the underside of the headphone can be felt after a few hours of listening. They're comfortable for glasses wearers too, who can often find themselves adjusting the fit to accommodate glasses' frames within the earpads. While those with thicker frames might require more adjustment, we found it relatively straightforward to achieve a comfortable fit with thinner designs. That said, if you have a larger head, you might find that the clamping force causes them to put some lateral pressure on your ears over long listening sessions.
These headphones have a control scheme that's relatively straightforward to use, while still providing some functionality in lieu of a companion app. While the large volume dial makes it easy to set the perfect volume level, other buttons are tucked away and on the smaller side. Still, this helps reduce the visual clutter, and it's easy enough to dial in the controls once you've memorized where they are. The buttons themselves are clicky and provide voice feedback when you change EQ presets and ANC modes and initiate pairing. Sadly, there's no audio feedback to indicate when you've hit max or minimum volume, but there's an LED light to indicate battery life and charging status. There's also a small pinhole that can be used to force a hard reset, though you'll need a paperclip for this.
These headphones aren't the most portable. Their larger form factor is a trade-off for their very comfortable fit, with their square earpads taking up quite a lot of real estate, even when folded flat. They're not a great choice if you're trying to save space in a carry-on bag, especially if you choose to stow them in their impressively large carrying case (which is itself the size of a carry-on bag).
These headphones come with an impressive carrying case. The case itself is so large that we struggled to get it in frame, so we've provided an extra photo to give you a better sense of its size. It's made mostly of hard fabric, with chocolate leather accents throughout. We found that the zipper would sometimes get stuck on the corners of the case as we attempted to open or close it, though.
The inside of the case features a soft, tightly woven fabric that houses a storage compartment, complete with a magnetic fastener. There's also a small mesh bag for cable storage.
The DALI IO-12's build quality is excellent. The brand has taken care not to skimp on material quality, utilizing a mixture of leather, aluminum, and plastic in their construction. The aluminum hinges are sturdy and stay in place after adjustment, and the design eschews visible yokes in favor of a monolithic ear cup design that moves up and down as one solid piece. The headband and the earpads employ the same grainy leather, which feels supple on the skin. The headband is on the thinner side, but it distributes the weight well across the top of your head. However, the headband could trap heat around your ears over longer listening sessions.
These headphones have okay stability, but they're not designed to stay in position in the face of higher intensity movements, like jogging to catch a departing bus. They'll stay in position during less intense movements, though, like a bit of casual headbanging.
- DALI IO-12 headphones
- Quick start guide
- 1/8" TRS cable (1.2 m/3.93 ft)
- 1/8" TRS cable (3 m/9.84 ft)
- USB-A to USB-C cable (1.2 m/3.93 ft)
- 1/8" to 1/4" adapter
- Two-prong airline adapter
- Hard carrying case
The full range noise isolation performance is very good. While the ANC system can't quite compete with the likes of top-tier noise-cancelling headphones, like the Sony WH-1000XM6, it still does a respectable job of cutting out external noise across most of the frequency range. The passive isolation provided by the closed-back design helps tamp down on higher-pitched frequencies, while the ANC does most of the heavy lifting in the mid and bass ranges. That said, both are ineffective at attenuating the low-bass range, leaving you susceptible to sounds like engine rumble.
The noise isolation performance with common scenarios is just okay. While the ANC system does a decent job of cutting out the sound of a busy street, it struggles with the din of a busy office, as well as aircraft cabin noise, where the rumble of jet engines can clearly be heard.
There are a few ANC modes you can toggle through via the controls, too. You can switch ANC on or off and enable transparency mode, which filters in some environmental audio so you can remain aware of your surroundings.
The DALI IO-12 have an ANC system that struggles with wind noise, which is often the case with noise cancelling headphones. This is because wind noise interacts directly with the ANC microphones. The sound doesn't reach your ears but interacts with the microphones themselves, which emit an unpleasant popping sound while trying to cancel it out.
The leakage performance is good. These headphones' closed-back design prevents most audio from escaping, though particularly loud music might still be audible to those in close proximity in quiet environments.
These headphones feature an integrated microphone that offers a decent recording quality over a Bluetooth connection. It's capable of rendering your voice in an easily understandable way, though it can sound a bit boxy.
The integrated mic does an okay job of separating your voice from its background. Your voice will remain intelligible if taking calls in moderately noisy environments, like a bustling cafe, though some background noise will still filter through. It does a decent job in the face of sudden, intense noises through, which is good if you're prone to calling home while on the bus or subway. Your voice will likely get drowned out temporarily as a subway car pulls in, though.
These headphones have an outstanding battery performance. The advertised figure of 35 hours of continuous battery life (with ANC enabled) was almost exactly what we achieved in testing. We did find that they took a little longer to charge than the advertised 1 hour and 50 minutes, though. They'll also power down automatically after 20 minutes of inactivity (with ANC disengaged).
The DALI IO-12 are compatible with two different wired connection types: USB-C and analog. Connecting via USB needs to be in 'active' mode, with the onboard DSP enabled, but you can use them passively over the analog connection if you prefer to use a headphone amp. Our latency value of 32 ms, taken while in 'Active' mode, is on the higher side for a wired connection, but will likely be lower when the headphones are connected passively. You likely won't notice this when gaming, but you might want to switch over to passive mode if you're recording music, for example.
The Bluetooth connectivity is good overall. These headphones feature multi-device pairing (with up to two devices) and support a wide range of codecs, including SBC, aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, and AAC. While latency is predictably quite high with codecs like aptX and SBC, it's much lower when using aptX Adaptive (Low Latency), reducing the chance of lip-sync errors with video content.
These headphones will work with your PC over Bluetooth, and wired USB or analog. You won't be able to use the built-in mic with wired connection types, though.
These headphones can connect to PlayStation family consoles using a wired connection (either analog or USB). While this can be useful in a pinch for single-player games, you won't be able to use the mic to communicate with teammates.
These headphones can be used with Xbox family consoles over an analog connection. You won't be able to use the mic, though.